Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Do you have a game plan? Hurricane Season is just around the corner

At the moment, the weather in Louisiana is mild, sunny and
in the 80s, perfect for being outdoors, dining alfresco and enjoying the
multitude of festivals Louisiana has to offer. But in the next few weeks, the temperatures
of our tropical environment will reach heights known to fry bacon. You’ll break
a sweat just walking from your front door to your car and lightweight clothing
will be a must. Is it all coming back to you now?

Before the roads start to buckle and the Gulf of Mexico
water rises to a temperature that makes hurricanes flourish, now is the time to
get your affairs in order. The Louisiana Restaurant Association is reviewing and updating it emergency preparedness plan this month in advance of hurricane season.

If you haven’t already visited the Louisiana’s www.getagameplan.org, take five minutes
now, and budget further time prior to June 1, the beginning of hurricane
season. Business continuity planning is all too important to the restaurant
industry, as we are in Tier 3 for re-entering an area impacted by a storm or
other disaster. Following first responders and those restoring power,
restaurants, grocers and food purveyors are next in line to return to feed
those assisting in recovery, even before residents are allowed to come home.
Contact your parish emergency preparedness office to get your re-entry placard.
Requirements vary by parish.

We’ve been through this before. It should be second nature
to all of us now, especially those of us who experienced Hurricanes Katrina,
Rita, Ike and Gustav. But as time goes on without a major incident, our
memories fade and we distance ourselves from the operational challenges of
re-opening our doors following the worst of storms.

This is not the fun stuff, but necessary to reduce your
losses. Here are a few things to do now, not when hurricane season is underway:

Call your insurance agent. Once hurricane season is
in effect, it may be too late to alter or increase your coverage. Policies
vary, so schedule an appointment with your agent to review your current
coverage. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what’s covered and what’s
not. Increase or add coverage accordingly.

Data Security. What will you do to secure your
computers and point of purchase equipment? Customer receipts containing any
credit card information may need to be batched out earlier than scheduled or
POS systems that track payroll may require back up. Will you need to issue
paper checks or direct deposit for your employees?

Reduce your food supplies. What do you do when you
have a freezer full of food and an impending storm? If its hurricane season,
which traditionally means business slows, reduce your food orders and don’t
keep as much inventory on hand. If you find yourself in need of evacuation and
you have food on hand, consider donating it to the local Fire Department as
they stay during an event.

Secure the property. When a hurricane enters
the Gulf, plywood may be scarce and you may find yourself fighting residents
for materials at the 11th hour at Lowe’s or Home Depot. This may be
something to consider purchasing in advance and storing if you have the space.

Where are you headed? Do you know where you will go
and where your employees will go? Cell phone numbers, email addresses and
destination numbers on hand will help you reach your staff when the coast is
clear and everyone on your team can return-to-work.

Clearly, this is not an extensive list. What do you
recommend for restaurants to prepare for a hurricane?